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"Our team is very athletic and they have experienced a great deal of success throughout the past year in multiple other sports," said Huss, who also previously served as an assistant to Johnson. "I have noticed a high level of competitiveness and mental toughness during preseason and want this attitude to carry us throughout the season."

Huss, who was named to the all-NCC third team in 2012, collected 137 kills, 108 digs, 52 blocks and 36 aces a year ago. She was also a unanimous all-conference pick in basketball last winter for co-league champion St. Edmond.

Savery went 163-for-177 behind the service line with 216 digs as a junior. Yung (21 of 23 serving) and Moeding (11 of 13 on serves with 21 assists) made the most of their opportunities as well in 2012. Yung was also a unanimous all-conference nominee on the hardwood during her sophomore campaign, while being tabbed to the all-NCC second squad in softball this summer for the Gaels, who reached state for only the fourth time in school history.

"Returning as the head varsity coach has seemed to be a smooth transition for the players, who I have coached as freshmen and in middle school," Huss said. "Sarah Hummelgard is new to the program, and I am very excited to have her as my assistant. She possesses a great deal of knowledge and played competitively for her high school team as well as club teams in the offseason."

The Gaels must fill the void left by six seniors, including all-conference performers Hannah Lentsch and Claire Crimmins.

In the NCC, Iowa Falls-Alden (32-5 overall, 9-0 in the league last season) is seeking a second consecutive league title. Algona (No. 9 in Class 3A) and Webster City (No. 13 in 4A) were the lone conference teams to crack the preseason rankings.